Celtic defeated Rangers 3-1 at Celtic Park today, May 10, 2026, in an explosive encounter that has effectively ended the title aspirations for the blue half of Glasgow. A second-half masterclass from Daizen Maeda secured the victory, leaving Rangers trailing in the wake of both their local rivals and a surging Hearts side. This result comes at a time when the traditional dominance of the Scottish Premiership Old Firm derby is under its most significant threat in decades, as league-leaders Hearts continue their chase for a first top-flight title in 66 years.
The match began with Rangers taking an early lead in the 9th minute through Mikey Moore, quieting the home crowd as the visitors looked to keep their slim championship hopes alive. However, Celtic responded with a relentless high press that eventually broke the Rangers defense. Yang Hyun-jun found the equalizer in the 23rd minute, driving a low shot into the net to restore parity before halftime. The intensity stayed high as both teams traded heavy tackles in a desperate bid for control of the midfield during a high-stakes afternoon for Scottish sports.
The second half belonged entirely to Maeda. In a blistering four-minute window, the Japanese international turned the game on its head. He first struck in the 53rd minute to give Celtic the lead, but it was his second goal in the 57th minute that left the stadium in awe. Maeda connected with a cross to execute a stunning overhead strike that flew past the Rangers goalkeeper. Rangers looked shell-shocked. They were unable to find a way back into the contest as Celtic maintained possession and saw out the final half-hour with professional composure.
With this defeat, Rangers are now mathematically distanced from the top of the table. Their failure to secure points today marks a massive disappointment for a squad valued at £40 million. Meanwhile, Celtic has closed the gap on Hearts, setting up a frantic final series of fixtures. The title race is now a straight fight between the defending champions and the Edinburgh-based leaders, who are looking to break the historic duopoly that has defined Scottish football for the last 41 years.
How the 66-Year Hearts Title Pursuit Rewrites the Celtic Rivalry
This victory for Celtic does more than just humiliate their oldest rivals; it fundamentally shifts the pressure onto Hearts of Midlothian. For the first time since 1985, a team outside of the Glasgow giants is the favorite to take the trophy, and Celtic’s clinical 3-1 performance today serves as a direct warning to the leaders. The paradigm shift is clear: Rangers have officially transitioned from title contenders to onlookers, while Celtic has regained the tactical momentum needed to chase down an Edinburgh side that hasn’t touched the league trophy since 1960. The historical significance of this season cannot be overstated, as every Celtic goal now doubles as a psychological strike against a Hearts team carrying the weight of six decades of expectation.